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<ul><li>India's expert panel has recommended SII’s Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dubbed Covishield in India for emergency use with 'restrictions.'</li><li>The SEC recommendation on Covishield has been forwarded to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), which is likely to take a final call soon.</li><li>The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield. </li></ul>An expert panel of India's drug regulator on Friday recommended emergency use approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Covishield, being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, paving the way for the roll-out of the first COVID-19 shot in the country in the next few days.. The SEC recommendation on Covishield has been forwarded to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), which is likely to take a final call soon. The SEC, which earlier had sought additional safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data from SII and Bharat Biotech, deliberated on their applications seeking emergency use authorisation (EUA) for their shots on Wednesday, and met again on Friday to review the matter. While granting the restricted emergency use approval for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, the panel imposed certain regulatory provisions, including that the shot is indicated for active immunisation in individuals of 18 years or more to prevent the disease and that it should be administered intramuscularly in two doses at an interval of 4 to 6 weeks. Further, the SII should submit safety, efficacy and immunogenicity data from the ongoing clinical trials in the country and across the globe for review at the earliest. Also, the Pune-based firm should submit the safety data including the data on adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) and adverse event of special interest (AESI) with due analysis every 15 days for the first two months and monthly thereafter till the completion of the ongoing clinical trial in the country. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has tied up with AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield. The approval comes at a time when the Indian government is wary of the new strain of COVID-19, which has been wreaking havoc in the UK. So far 29 cases of the new mutant variant have been detected in India. As compared to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-needs-to-ramp-up-its-cold-storage-facilities-to-accommodate-the-distribution-of-the-covid-19-vaccine-within-the-country/articleshow/79422624.cms">more suited to India’s requirements</a> with storage temperature requirements of between two to eight degrees Celsius. COVID-19 vaccine candidates and the temperatures they need to survive: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vaccine </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Cold chain </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pfizer/BioNTech </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-70 degrees Celsius </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Moderna </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-20 degrees Celsius </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Oxford/AstraZeneca </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2-8 degrees </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Johnson and Johnson </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2-8 degrees </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Novavax </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2-8 degrees </td></tr></tbody></table>Source: Respective companies The government is also reportedly in favour of Covishield because it's considerably cheaper than Pfizer and Moderna. According to the SII, the vaccine will only cost the government $3 per dose. Pfizer, on the other hand, is selling its vaccine at $37 per dose. Cost of COVID-19 vaccines: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">COVID-19 vaccine candidate </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Projected price per dose </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Covishield </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$3 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bharat Biotech </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$3-6 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Zydus </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$3-6 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sputnik V </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$10 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pfizer </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$37 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-cost-7060816/">Moderna</a> </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$25-37 </td></tr></tbody></table> SII CEO Adar Poonawalla <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-india-approval-likely-to-be-considered-today/articleshow/80025755.cms">told reporters</a> on December 28 that it has 40 to 50 million vaccine doses stockpiled so far, most of which are intended for the Indian market. “We will get some good news this New Year’s… All the data has been submitted and we must respect the process as regulators evaluate data,” he said. The Indian government is also ready to roll out the vaccine having run a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-vaccine-dry-run-prep-up-before-the-actual-vaccine-reaches-you/articleshow/79996397.cms">two-day dry run</a> of its vaccination drive. The mock exercise was aimed at end-to-end testing of Covid-19 vaccination process, including planning and preparations as per the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-vaccine-punjab-completes-dry-run-for-vaccination-in-two-districts-amid-concerns-over-new-virus-strain/articleshow/80010928.cms">operational guidelines</a>. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-chairman-k-sivan-gets-one-year-extension-as-space-secretary/articleshow/80038663.cms">ISRO Chairman K Sivan gets one year extension as Space Secretary</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/cbi-books-hyderabad-based-infra-firm-ivrcl-for-defrauding-eight-public-banks-for-4837-crore/articleshow/80038439.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">CBI books Hyderabad-based infra firm IVRCL for defrauding eight public banks for ₹4,837 crore</a>

Serum’s Covishield vaccine gets expert panel recommendation, paving the way for first authorized COVID-19 shot in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> blocked exports of AstraZeneca COVID-19 <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword> made there, perhaps for months.</li><li>It is likely to disrupt the rollout of vaccine to poorer countries via the COVAX scheme.</li><li>India's biggest vaccine-maker also delayed recent batches meant for the UK and Brazil.</li></ul>India has blocked all major exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine to boost domestic supply, the latest move by a country to stop doses from leaving its borders.This could disrupt the rollout of vaccines to poorer countries via the COVAX scheme, which had been counting on Indian-made doses.The Serum Institute of India is a major provider of vaccines to COVAX, the WHO-backed initiative aimed at fair distribution of the vaccine to poorer countries.The Institute said that it was told to halt all exports of the vaccine, in a move that could last "two to three months," <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5349389c-8313-41e0-9a67-58274e24a019">the Financial Times reported</a> on Thursday. Reuters reported that India <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-vaccine-excl-idUSKBN2BG3FV">will also likely delay</a> delivery of the doses expected by COVAX for March and April "following a setback in securing export licenses," according to an email from UNICEF. The Serum Institute of India has promised 200 million doses to COVAX, half of which are the AstraZeneca vaccine, but for now has only dispatched 17.7 million, the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55571793">BBC reported on Thursday</a>.The move is "due to the increased demand of Covid-19 vaccines in India," a spokesperson for Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/world/covax-vaccines-for-poor-countries-delayed-by-india-gavi-11616669721908.html">told AFP.</a>This news comes as India is seeing a sharp increase in <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56480474">COVID-19 cases</a> and is ramping up its vaccination rollout. The government announced on Tuesday that it would expand vaccination to everyone <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/from-april-1-anyone-over-45-can-get-covid-shot/articleshow/81660979.cms">over the age of 45 from April 1</a>. Covishield, India's local name for the AstraZeneca vaccine, is one of two vaccines approved in the country. The other is Covaxin, which is manufacturers by Bharat Biotech.The Serum Institute of India is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, and produces both Covishield and the Novovax vaccine. India has exported over 60 million doses of vaccine to 76 countries, most of which are AstraZeneca vaccine, the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56513371">BBC reported</a>. It has also promised more than 900 million doses of the vaccine in bilateral commercial deals, the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55571793">BBC reported</a>. The move prompts questions about potential supply issues.The Serum Institute of India has recently delayed delivery of 5 million doses of AstraZeneca <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56438629">doses meant for the UK</a>.Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco were also told to expect delays, the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sii-fails-to-deliver-new-delhis-vaccine-diplomacy-hits-hurdle/articleshow/81610596.cms">Times of India reported on Sunday</a> due to <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55753586">a fire</a> in a manufacturing facility in January. The Serum Institute of India and the WHO have previously warned that manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines face a shortage of raw materials essential for vaccine manufacturing, in part due to a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55571793">US ban on export of some products</a>.

India is blocking exports of AstraZeneca vaccines to use for itself, disrupting vaccine rollouts in other countries

<keyword id="383467" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adar-Poonawalla">Adar Poonawalla</keyword>, CEO, <keyword id="95879" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword> (SII) has said that vaccine nationalism in <keyword id="6407494" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="countries">countries</keyword>, including the US and <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> is likely to derail efforts to deliver 2 billion doses to poorer and middle-income nations. In an interview with a global news wire, <keyword id="25607" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="poonawalla">Poonawalla</keyword> said countries are holding tight to their supplies and restricting access to materials needed to make more. Indian officials have also requested more vaccines than initially expected from the company, Poonawalla was quoted as saying. "We had to dedicate a lot of our capacity, which was not originally planned for India," he said. "We're trying to balance it out as much as possible, but again for the <keyword id="10943125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="first-few-months">first few months</keyword> we have been directed to prioritise supplies to India and certain other countries that have a high disease burden." The company is responsible for providing more than half of the shots used so far in the WHO-backed Covax program that aims to provide equitable vaccine access across the world. Poonawalla said it will take two to three months for shipments to Covax to really pick up, and reaching the 2021 target of 2 billion doses will be challenging, he said, predicting it will "spill over by a few months". In an earlier tweet in February, Poonwalla had said SII has been asked to prioritise the huge needs of India and had asked "countries and governments" to be patient. "Dear countries &amp; governments, as you await #COVISHIELD supplies, I humbly request you to please be patient, @SerumInstIndia has been directed to prioritise the huge needs of India and along with that balance the needs of the rest of the world. We are trying our best," he said in the tweet. He had also assured <keyword id="6356687" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="canada">Canada</keyword> of vaccine delivery. "Dear Hon'ble PM @JustinTrudeau, I thank you for your warm words towards India and it's vaccine industry. As we await regulatory approvals from Canada, I assure you, @SerumInstIndia will fly out #COVISHIELD to Canada in less than a month; I'm on it!" SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/nazara-technologies-ipo-opens-today-should-you-subscribe/articleshow/81542657.cms">Nazara Technologies will be the first pure-play gaming company to debut on the Indian public markets – analysts are all in for it</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/suryoday-small-finance-bank-initial-public-offer-ipo-worth-581-crore-live-should-you-subscribe/articleshow/81543610.cms">Suryoday Small Finance Bank IPO worth ₹581 crore opens today – should you subscribe?</a>

SII CEO believes 'vaccine nationalism' in India and the US could derail efforts to deliver two billion doses to poorer nations

<ul><li>The UK is the first country to approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for active immunisation. </li><li>The country has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine and the vaccine is likely to start rolling out by January 4. </li><li>However, European watchdog has warned that there isn’t enough data to be giving the Oxford vaccine approval just yet. </li></ul>The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine — also called the ‘jab’ — has been approved for mass vaccination in the UK. The country has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, which are expected to start rolling out the vaccine from January 4. "The government has today accepted the recommendation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to authorise Oxford University/AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for use," said the Health and Social Care department spokesperson. MHRA’s authorisation for the emergency supply of Oxford covid vaccine is aimed at the active immunisation of individuals 18 years or older, according to AstraZeneca. What does this mean for India? This could spell good news for India, who has been keeping its eye on the UK, with its own approval of the vaccine is pending. As compared to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is more suited to India’s cold storage infrastructure. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vaccine candidates and the temperatures they need to survive: </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vaccine </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Cold chain </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pfizer/BioNTech </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-70 degrees Celsius </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Moderna </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-20 degrees Celsius </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Oxford/AstraZeneca </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2-8 degrees </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Johnson and Johnson </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2-8 degrees </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Novavax </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2-8 degrees </td></tr></tbody></table>Source: Respective companies The Serum Institute of India (SII) is hopeful that the India variant, called COVISHIELD, will receive the required regulatory approval in ‘few days.’ "We have 40-50 million doses of Covishield stockpiled. Once we get regulatory approvals in a few days, it will be down to the government to decide how much they can take and how fast. We will be producing around 300 million doses by July 2021," said Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla during a press conference on Monday. However, officials at the European Medicines Agency (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-approval-is-unthinkable-claims-european-watchdog/articleshow/80022921.cms">EMA</a>) have warned that giving the vaccine approval at this stage is ‘unthinkable’. "The data we have at the moment is not even enough to give the AstraZeneca vaccine a conditional authorisation," they told Belgian newspaper het Nieuwsblad. "We need additional data about the quality of the vaccine. And after that, the company has to formally apply.” As of now, AstraZeneca recommends two doses administered with a gap of between four to 12 weeks. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-detects-14-new-cases-of-uk-covid-19-strain-putting-the-tally-at-20/articleshow/80020163.cms">India detects 14 new cases of mutated COVID-19 strain in UK returnees, putting the tally at 20</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/three-anil-ambani-companies-accused-of-fraud-ten-times-more-than-vijay-mallya/articleshow/80002892.cms">Three Anil Ambani companies have reportedly been accused of fraud by banks⁠ — the amount at stake is nearly ten times more than what Mallya owed</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/new-strain-of-uk-covid-19-virus-is-a-lot-more-contagious-warns-indias-health-ministry/articleshow/80011618.cms">The new strain of COVID-19 is a lot more contagious, warns India's Health Ministry</a>

UK approves Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

New Delhi, With the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approving <keyword id="95879" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword>'s 'Covishield' vaccine and <keyword id="149108" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech">Bharat Biotech</keyword>'s 'Covaxin' for emergency use, paving way for their roll-out and administration to millions, Russian <keyword id="9739267" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sputnik-V">Sputnik V</keyword> vaccine makers have said that they are working with <keyword id="6409874" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="astrazeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword> (AZ) to take the efficacy of AZ vaccine to over 90%. In a tweet, Sputnik V said: "As Indian regulator recommends for approval full-dose regimen of AstraZeneca's vaccine with efficacy of 62.1% based on phase 3 clinical data. Sputnik V is working on clinical trials with AZ to increase the efficacy of AZ vaccine to over 90%". AstraZeneca is currently working with the Russians on the combination of their vaccine's vector with that from Sputnik V (showing 91.4% efficacy as per Phase 3 final control point recorded last month), precisely to see if that could help boost its vaccine's efficacy to over 90% as well. While both vaccines use adenoviral vector technology, the AstraZeneca vaccine is based on a chimpanzee adenovirus (which is not the most popular technology among the vaccinated as recently conducted polls indicated that, given a choice, consumers prefer other technologies), the Sputnik V vaccine is based on a human adenovirus. Unlike AstraZeneca, which uses one and the same component for both inoculations, the Russian vaccine uses two different ones in two separate inoculations. Using the latter approach could prove more efficient in achieving a longer-lasting immune response. Covishield and Covaxin have to be administered in two doses and can be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius. The Drugs Controller General of India has also granted permission to <keyword id="63358" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cadila-Healthcare">Cadila healthcare</keyword> for phase 3 clinical trial in India. The vaccine will be first offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities. India will produce about 300 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in 2021, Head of the <keyword id="1397612" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russian-Direct-Investment-Fund">Russian Direct Investment Fund</keyword> (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV channel last month. "In India, we have agreements with four large manufacturers. India will produce about 300 million doses or more of the vaccine for us next year," Russian news agency Tass quoted him as saying. In September 2020, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and RDIF entered into a partnership to conduct clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine and the rights for distribution of the first 100 million doses in India. Dr. Reddys and RDIF announced in December that they have commenced adaptive Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for Sputnik V vaccine in India for Covid-19 after receiving the necessary clearance from the <keyword id="241784" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Drugs-Laboratory">Central Drugs Laboratory</keyword>, Kasauli. On August 11, 2020, the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia and became the world's first registered vaccine against Covid-19 based on the human adenoviral vector platform. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-beml-hcl-tech-infosys-tech-mahindra-tcs-ril-tata-motors-hero-moto-tvs-and-others/articleshow/80089765.cms">Top stocks to watch — BEML, HCL Tech, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS, RIL, Tata Motors Hero Moto, TVS, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/checkout-upcoming-new-cars-in-year-2021/slidelist/80025993.cms">Upcoming new cars in India in 2021 of Maruti, Tata, MG, Audi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/questions-arise-about-jack-ma-whereabouts-as-alibaba-faces-scrutiny-from-the-chinese-government/articleshow/80090457.cms">Where is Jack Ma? Questions arise about the billionaire’s whereabouts as Alibaba faces scrutiny from the Chinese government</a>

Russian vaccine makers are trying to push AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine's efficacy to beyond 90%

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword> announced last Monday that vaccines were now free for all adults in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>. </li><li>But private hospitals will still charge for vaccines, and it is unclear whether the government has enough stock of free vaccines. </li><li>200,000 Indians have died since the start of the vaccination drive thanks to the government's mismanagement. </li><li>Peony Hirwani is a culture and political journalist.</li><li>This is an <keyword id="6356002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="opinion">opinion</keyword> column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.</li></ul>In the past five months, Indians have seen thousands of people die due to lack of oxygen, medication, ventilators, and hospital beds. The <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> pandemic has swept the nation with trepidation and has cost Indians more than it should. Last Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/indias-modi-pm-announces-free-covid-19-vaccines-all-adults-2021-06-07/"> vaccines were free</a> for all adult citizens. As delightful as the <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> sounds, later clarification showed this wasn't actually the case. Private hospitals will continue charging for the <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword>, and the supply at government hospitals - where the vaccine is free - has been tragically <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/jabs-shortage-artificial-says-aap-over-supply-running-low-101622242927851.html">low</a> so far. From the start, India's vaccine drive has been terribly mismanaged, costing thousands of Indians their lives. <h2>Not enough people vaccinated</h2>As of June 10, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-records-6148-deaths-covid-19-past-24-hours-2021-06-10/">359,000</a> Indians have lost their lives to the disease. Some of them could have been saved if the vaccine drive was better managed. India began its inoculation drive on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-worlds-largest-vaccination-programme-begins-in-india-on-january-16/article33582069.ece">January 16</a> when it managed to administer a little less than 200,000 doses to frontline workers. On April 2, the number of administered vaccines rose to <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/we-know-vaccines-are-the-way-out-of-covid-19-but-how-are-india-s-numbers-stacked-76952">4.3 million doses</a>, and starting May 1, when the government announced vaccinations were available for everyone 18 years and older, the number of administered vaccines, on average, was around one million doses per day - far less than it should be for a country with 1.38 billion people. As the 18 and older population attempted to sign up for a vaccine appointment on May 1, the registration websites <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/covid-vaccine-registration-cowin-portal-crashes-memes-7292689/">crashed</a>, and when people finally managed to get themselves registered, there were no slots available in most <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/ap-govt-announces-it-has-no-stock-of-covid-vaccine-cm-writes-to-modi-for-60-lakh-doses/articleshow/82103786.cms?from=mdr">states</a>. (Based on personal experience, the situation is still the same). Modi basically announced the second phase of the <a href="https://www.who.int/india/news/feature-stories/detail/india-rolls-out-the-world-s-largest-covid-19-vaccination-drive#:~:text=India%20rolled%20out%20the%20world's,its%20states%20and%20union%20territories.ies.">biggest vaccine drive in the world</a> while knowing there wasn't <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57007004">sufficient</a> stock available. So far, only 5% of eligible adults have been <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/we-know-vaccines-are-the-way-out-of-covid-19-but-how-are-india-s-numbers-stacked-76952">completely vaccinated</a> in India - when we look at the entire population, the percentage drops to 3%. <h2>High cost barrier</h2>One of the primary reasons why more people haven't gotten their jabs is due to the cost barrier and unavailability of doses. India's two leading vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield (AstraZeneca), have been administered to eligible citizens in government hospitals for free, but private institutions have been charging a whopping rate of 800-1400 rupees ($10.92-$19.11) for the jab. It's next to impossible to register for an appointment at a government facility due to low stock, so most of the population, including me, had to choose the private option. I personally paid 850 rupees for my shot, a price which is completely unaffordable for a lower-wage worker who is looking to get their entire family vaccinated. "I am so scared of the disease," Dinesh Ramkumar, a watchman in the state of Rajasthan, told me. "One of our family members got infected a month ago and we spent almost all our savings for his treatment. Now, we were dependent on the government to provide us with free vaccines, but every time I go to the government center, they say that they don't have any stock left … there's no way I can pay 1,000 rupees for one vaccine as my family has 10 people, and it would cost me 10,000 rupees." <h2>Vaccine mismanagement</h2>On Tuesday, after Modi's announcement the day before that vaccines would be free, the government announced several changes to its vaccine policy, including a <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/covid-vaccine-covaxin-covishield-sputnik-price-7349950/">new cap on prices</a> that private hospitals can charge. However, in many cases, these caps are higher than what the prices were before. The government has also capped the service charge for getting the shot at 150 rupees - a price which makes the whole thing <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/unrest-in-private-healthcare-sector-after-govt-caps-covid-19-vax-prices-11623250797338.html">unviable</a> for the people who need the vaccine most. Just last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <a href="https://thewire.in/health/us-fda-denies-emergency-use-approval-to-bharat-biotech-covaxin">dismissed</a> Bharat Biotech's proposal for emergency use authorization for their Covaxin vaccine in the US. This news has certainly added to the already existing vaccine hesitancy concerns in India. It will also put a strain on India to develop enough doses of Covishield for the country's population. The Indian authorities have released a <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bharat-biotech-s-covaxin-not-getting-emergency-approval-in-us-will-not-impact-india-s-vaccine-plan-says-centre-101623410392584.html">statement</a> saying that Covaxin not getting emergency approval in the US won't affect India's vaccine drive, but that likely won't change how residents see the news. It's baffling how mismanaged the entire immunization drive has been from the beginning. How did the world's biggest antibody producer, dubbed the "pharmacy of the world," end up with so few vaccines for itself? More than <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data?country=~IND">200,000 people</a> have died in India since inoculation began. That's how many lives would have been saved if the authorities had prepared for the second wave by arranging resources, ordering more vaccines, and making them available for free. We all know that the only way to beat this deadly virus is through vaccines. So, why weren't we ready? After the declarations this week, it still doesn't feel like the vaccine has really been made free. Based on how things have gone, I worry that people still won't be able to register for the free shots as promised. Is there any meaning attached to Modi's words? Only time will tell.

OPINION: The Indian government's failed vaccine drive has caused thousands of Indians to needlessly die

<ul><li>Hyderabad-based <keyword id="149108" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech">Bharat Biotech</keyword> released phase 3 results of its Covid-19 vaccine — Covaxin — today</li><li>Covaxin is one of two coronavirus vaccines approved by the India drug regulator.</li><li>Earlier, the Indian drug regulator's approval triggered a row of criticism from experts pointing to a lack of efficacy data at that time.</li><li>Check out the latest news and updates on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Business Insider</a>.</li></ul>Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech released phase 3 results of its Covid-19 vaccine — Covaxin — today. The vaccine demonstrated 81% interim efficacy in preventing COVID-19, in those without prior infection, after the second dose. "Clinical trial to continue through to final analysis at 130 confirmed cases in order to gather further data and to evaluate the efficacy of Covaxin in additional secondary study endpoints," the company said in a statement. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vaccines </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Efficacy rate </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">SII’s Covishield </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">62% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">92.10% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">91.60% </td></tr></tbody></table> This comes two days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was administered a dose of Covaxin as he kicked off the largest phase of COVID-19 vaccination in India. Covaxin is one of two coronavirus vaccines approved by the India drug regulator. The drug had earlier received clearance for emergency use. Bharat Biotech conducted a study on 25,800 participants who received a vaccine or placebo in a 1:1 ratio. The results showed that the vaccine candidate was well tolerated. It conducted the trials in partnership with India’s medical research organisation, ICMR. Earlier, the Indian drug regulator's approval triggered a row of criticism from experts pointing to a lack of efficacy data at that time. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) also came under flak from various quarters for approving Covaxin even before the completion of Phase 3 trials. Critics wondered how the regulator could approve the vaccine in the absence of the data from Phase 3. Allaying the apprehensions associated with the vaccine's safety, S. Eswara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), had then clarified that Covaxin has satisfactory efficacy levels and there is nothing to worry about. Indicating at Covaxin's efficacy meeting the WHO standard, Reddy <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covaxin-efficacy-meets-who-standards-safe-to-use-joint-drugs-controller/articleshow/80305797.cms">had then said,</a> "We assure that the vaccine is safe and the efficacy (of Covaxin) is to the satisfaction." The country has so far <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/citizens-face-issues-in-availability-of-slots-and-major-technical-glitches-on-the-co-win-app-as-india-kicks-off-its-largest-vaccination-drive-ever/articleshow/81294033.cms">administered </a>nearly 1.48 crores doses of COVID-19 vaccines. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/instagram-accidentally-hid-likes-for-some-users-after-expanding-long-running-test-feature-says-cnn-report/articleshow/81308217.cms">Instagram accidentally hid likes for some users after expanding long-running test feature, says CNN report</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/instagram-accidentally-hid-likes-for-some-users-after-expanding-long-running-test-feature-says-cnn-report/articleshow/81308217.cms"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/paypal-which-had-shut-down-domestic-operations-in-india-now-plans-to-hire-1000-engineers/articleshow/81307572.cms">PayPal, which had shut down domestic operations in India, now plans to hire 1,000 engineers</a>

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin shows 81% efficacy after second dose in phase 3 trials

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dr. <keyword id="3540587" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="fauci">Fauci</keyword> said Sunday that the US may send unused <keyword id="6409874" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="astrazeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword> <keyword id="79555" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vaccines">vaccines</keyword> to <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>.</li><li>The US has millions of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in storage.</li><li>India on Sunday recorded a world record number of new COVID-19 cases.</li></ul>Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor, said Sunday that the US may send millions of unused AstraZeneca vaccines to India.India reported a world-record <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-india-cases-rising-record-infections-coronavirus-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">350,000 daily COVID-19 cases</a> on Sunday, and its hospitals are overwhelmed. Less than 2% of the population are fully vaccinated, <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Johns Hopkins University</a>. Meanwhile, the US has tens of millions of AstraZeneca shots in storage. The vaccine is awaiting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization, and the US has already signed a deal for 300 million doses. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-us-might-not-need-astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine-has-enough-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fauci said April 3 </a>that the US may not need AstraZeneca's vaccine because it already has enough shots for everyone - just under 30% of Americans are fully immunized, <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</a> On Sunday, Fauci <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8PyIIe00fw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told ABC News</a>: "I don't want to be speaking for policy right now, but that is certainly something that is going to be actively considered," referring to sending shots to India."It's a terrible situation going on in India and other low and middle income countries and there is more we can do," Fauci said. "We really need to do more. We can't walk away from that."AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot - which is estimated to be about <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-vaccines-compared-vaccine-pfizer-oxford-moderna-astrazeneca-side-effects-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">76% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19</a>, and is highly protective against hospitalization and death - has regulatory approval in India. The US Chamber of Commerce said in a statement Saturday that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-pressured-to-donate-covid-19-vaccine-to-india-2021-4">the Biden administration should release millions of AstraZeneca vaccines in storage for shipment to India</a>, Brazil, and other nations hard hit by the pandemic. Public <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> experts, including Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, also called on the US government to give excess AstraZeneca vaccines to India. "We are sitting on 35-40 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine Americans will never use," Jha wrote on Twitter on Thursday. "Can we please give or lend them to India? Like maybe now? It'll help. A lot." The Biden administration announced Sunday that the US <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-to-help-india-with-covid-19-crisis-through-vaccine-production-supplies-2021-4">would send India the raw materials needed to produce Covishield,</a> the Indian brand name for the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford vaccine, as well as personal protective equipment, testing kits, drugs, and ventilators, but it didn't mention sending vaccines.

Fauci says the US may send unused AstraZeneca shots to India to help with its growing COVID-19 crisis

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> officials in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> approved two <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> vaccines on Sunday, including one made by <keyword id="6409874" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="astrazeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword>, for emergency use. </li><li>While announcing the emergency use, VG Somani, the country's drug's controller general said the vaccines were "110% safe," according to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dcgi-approves-oxfords-covishield-and-bharat-biotechs-covaxin-vaccine-for-restricted-emergency-use/articleshow/80080471.cms">The Times of India</a>.</li><li>"A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight," India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, said on <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1345607618191007747?s=20">Twitter</a>.</li></ul>Health officials in India on Sunday approved two COVID-19 vaccines, including one made by AstraZeneca, for emergency use. "A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight," India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, said on <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1345607618191007747?s=20">Twitter</a>.The drugs controller general of India approved a local drug made by Bharat Biotech, along with the <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword> developed by AstraZeneca and <keyword id="46985" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Oxford">Oxford</keyword> University, according to officials and media reports. In announcing the emergency use, VG Somani, DCGI chief, said the vaccines were "110% safe," according to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dcgi-approves-oxfords-covishield-and-bharat-biotechs-covaxin-vaccine-for-restricted-emergency-use/articleshow/80080471.cms">The Times of India</a>.AstraZeneca's manufacturing partner, Serum Institute of India, will work to produce its drug locally, according to CEO Adar Poonawalla. AstraZeneca's drug is called Covishield in India. The UK on Wednesday became the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oxford-astrazeneca-coronavirus-authorized-emergency-use-in-uk-2020-12">first country to approve</a> AstraZeneca's vaccine for emergency use. The company has reportedly increased production, with the goal of producing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/astrazeneca-increase-covid-19-vaccine-production-2-million-a-week-2021-1">2 million doses</a> per week. Although the drugs were approved for emergency use, they haven't finished clinical trials, the government said. Phase 3 trials for Bharat's drug, Covaxin, are underway with about 20,000 volunteers in 26 hospitals, said Suchitra Ella, Bharat's joint managing director, in a televised interview with <a href="https://twitter.com/rajyasabhatv/status/1344965423997992960?s=20">Rajya Sabha TV</a> on Friday. With a population of 1.3 billion people, India is the world's second-most populous country. It plans to vaccinate 300 million people by July, according to <a href="https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/300-million-target-in-phase-i-how-will-indias-covid-19-vaccination-plan-work-1.76205514">Gulf News</a>. That will include 30 million <keyword id="6354525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare">healthcare</keyword> and frontline workers.The country has been hard hit by COVID-19. About 149,435 people have died from it in India, according to figures from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With 10.3 million confirmed cases, it's behind only the US's 20.4 million cases, according to data compiled by <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html">Johns Hopkins University</a>.Like elsewhere, rumors have spread about vaccine side effects. In India, some worried the vaccine would make people impotent, a falsehood Somani sought to end on Sunday. "Some side effects like mild fever, pain &amp; allergy are common for every vaccine. [The impotence rumour] is absolute rubbish," he said, according to the Times of India. After the emergency approval announcement, Modi thanked frontline workers for their work battling COVID-19. "We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives," he said.

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in India, along with a local drugmaker's alternative shot

<ul><li>The 30-share BSE index was trading 150.78 points higher at 45,230 points, and the Nifty50 also rose 48.35 points at 13,306.90. </li><li>Here’s a list of the top losers and gainers in the Nifty pack. </li><li>These are the top stocks that are buzzing in trade today.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Check out the latest news and updates on Business Insider.</a> </li></ul>Indian equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 150 points and Nifty crossed the 13,300 level to hit their fresh lifetime peaks in early trade on Monday, tracking gains in index majors ICICI Bank, ITC and HUL amid persistent foreign fund inflow. After touching a record intraday high of 45,245, the 30-share BSE index was trading 150.78 points higher at 45,230 points. The Nifty50 also rose 48.35 points at 13,306.90. Here’s a list of the top losers and gainers in the Nifty pack. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Top Nifty Gainers </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Top Nifty Losers </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Adani Ports </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HDFC Bank </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">UPL </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kotak Mahindra Bank </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Dr Reddy </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hero Moto Corp </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ONGC </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bajaj Auto </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sun Pharma </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Nestle India </td></tr></tbody></table>*as of December 7, 10:30 am These are the top stocks in news today. ONGC trades 5% higher The shares of ONGC gained over 5% after its overseas investment arm ONGC Videsh has made a “significant” oil discovery in an onshore block in Colombia. NMDC gains over 3% The shares of state-owned NMDC gained over 3% after the long-pending issue of Donimalai iron ore mine in Karnataka was resolved. The central government has reached an agreement with the Karnataka state government and the Ministry of Steel to extend Donimalai Iron ore lease. APL Apollo Tubes up over 4% The shares of Apl Apollo Tubes rose over 4% after the company set December 16 as the record date for share split. The company earlier approved splitting each stock of face value ₹10 each into 5 equity shares of the face value of ₹2 each. Pfizer rises over 2% The shares of Pfizer soared nearly 3% after the company became the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/pfizer-seeks-emergency-use-authorisation-for-its-covid-19-vaccine-in-india/articleshow/79600551.cms">first pharmaceutical firm</a> to seek from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) an emergency-use authorisation for its Covid-19 vaccine in the country after its parent secured such clearance in the UK and Bahrain. SpiceJet, IndiGo and IRCTC rally with other hospitality stocks SpiceJet, IndiGo and IRCTC shares rallied with other hospitality stocks with the hopes of a COVID vaccine nearing reality. SpiceJet gained over 4%, IndiGo was up 2%, and IRCTC rallied nearly 8%. Tata Chemicals gains over 7% Tata Chemicals stock rallied over 7% after the stock had surged16% in the past two days after Tata Sons bought an additional 2.57 million shares of the company for ₹121 crore via the open market. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-serum-institute-seeks-emergency-use-nod-for-covishield-vaccine-in-india/articleshow/79600349.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Oxford COVID-19 vaccine: Serum Institute seeks emergency use nod for Covishield vaccine in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/section-144-extended-across-noida-and-greater-noida-till-january-2/articleshow/79600323.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Section 144 extended across Noida and Greater Noida till January 2</a>

You Searched For "covishield vaccine news" and got 10 results

Serum’s Covishield vaccine gets expert panel recommendation, paving the way for first authorized COVID-19 shot in India

BI India Bureau

India is blocking exports of AstraZeneca vaccines to use for itself, disrupting vaccine rollouts in other countries

Marianne Guenot

SII CEO believes 'vaccine nationalism' in India and the US could derail efforts to deliver two billion doses to poorer nations

IANS

UK approves Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

Prabhjote Gill

Russian vaccine makers are trying to push AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine's efficacy to beyond 90%

IANS

OPINION: The Indian government's failed vaccine drive has caused thousands of Indians to needlessly die

Peony Hirwani

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin shows 81% efficacy after second dose in phase 3 trials

BI India Bureau

Fauci says the US may send unused AstraZeneca shots to India to help with its growing COVID-19 crisis

Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in India, along with a local drugmaker's alternative shot

Kevin Shalvey

Top stock movers — ONGC, HDFC Bank, NMDC, Pfizer, SpiceJet, IndiGo, IRCTC, Tata Chemicals, and others

Navdeep Yadav

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